A New Standard of Care for Improving Patient Outcomes

PT/INR patient self-testing is approved by Medicare (CMS) and most private insurers for these conditions requiring warfarin oral anticoagulation:

chronic atrial fibrillation

mechanical heart valves

deep vein thrombosis

pulmonary embolism

hypercoagulable state

Clinical benefits of self-testing:

Helps maintain patients in therapeutic range, which may reduce the potential for drug-related complications and emergency room visits

Reducing the potential for drug-related complications and ER visits may have a positive impact on costs associated with anti-coagulation

Provides timely alert to clinicians when patients are out of range

Provides greater support for anticoagulation therapy compliance:

Recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine cites warfarin as the leading cause of emergency room admissions among the elderly.

By contacting patients with reminders to test if weekly results are not received, Remote Cardiac Services' Patient Self-Testing service offers clinicians and their patients a high degree of support for anticoagulation therapy.

When testing patients with mechanical heart valves, Medicare advises: “In order to achieve time in therapeutic range of greater than 90%, a patient most likely needs to test once a week.” 1